India's home minister P. Chidambaram said on Tuesday he wanted the Indian Premier League cricket tournament postponed because it clashed with next month's general elections.

"I have asked the home secretary to get in touch with the IPL organisers," Chidambaram told the CNN-IBN news channel.

"Since, the election dates are unalterable, I have asked to find out if the dates of the IPL can be rescheduled. I would be happy if the tournament starts when the bulk of the polls is over.

"I will be stretched to provide security for both the IPL and the elections."

The multi-million dollar Twenty20 tournament is due to be played from April 10 to May 24, while the parliamentary elections will be held in five phases between April 16 and May 13.

Chidambaram's comments came on the day armed gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan cricket team in the Pakistani city of Lahore, causing injuries to seven players.

The incident will put a black mark on Pakistan's ability to host sporting events, the minister added.

"In the immediate future, I don't think any country will send their sporting team to Pakistan," Chidambaram told the channel.

"But we should come to definitive conclusions only three months or six months down the line. Things can improve and I hope they will improve. I wish Pakistan will take steps to improve the situation.

"But if you ask me, it is unlikely that anyone will send a sporting team to Pakistan next week or the next month."

IPL commissioner Lalit Modi declined to comment on whether the tournament will be postponed, but said dates for the upcoming matches will be adjusted to accommodate the elections.

"We will work with the government to see no matches are played on the dates when voting takes place," Modi told local media.

"We are determined to provide good security for the tournament."

He said: "Post the Election Commission announcing the polling dates yesterday, the Indian Premier League is working on the schedule to ensure that there is no clash of IPL matches with the election dates. The IPL is fully cognizant of the importance of general elections in a country such as ours."

"We will go a step further to ensure that there will be no games 24 to 48 hours prior to the polling dates across all the nine match venues in the country.

"As indicated earlier, IPL will work with the State and the local authorities to ensure the smooth and successful conduct of the tournament. We will announce the new reworked schedule in the next 24 hours," Modi further said.

Top cricketers from around the world are expected to take part in the second edition of the tournament.